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Minutes Sheriff Contract Group Meeting December18, 2008 Altendorfer noted that the latest homicide investigation in Little Canada is taking a lot of time and that it has a large financial impact (over $50,000), as it involves much investigative time. Urban commented that we should not rely on the Sheriffs Department to design our roads, noting that this is not their expertise, and that it is more of a traffic engineering and traffic planning matter. Altendorfer reported that if there are problematic intersections, the Sheriffs Department can review them and determine what will work best as a short term solution. He stated that he does not feel that the Sheriff's. Department should be put in a position of engineering, pointing out that the Traffic Engineers and the Traffic Deputies may disagree about certain matters (i.e. stop signs). He stated that the Sheriffs Department has migrated in the direction to provide more of this type of service, however, he is concerned about spending a lot of time on engineering. Urban suggested a bullet to create a clearer process to obtain input from the Sheriffs Department on traffic issues. Altendorfer stated that it is an issue of allocation or shifting of the Traffic Deputies time to provide such services. Short stated that the Township refers traffic and speed issues to the Township Engineer, and to the County Engineer (if it relates to a County road), and to the Sheriff's Department. He noted that the Town Board sometimes uses a 6 or 12 month time period to determine if a new stop sign or speed control sign is working. He noted that the Town appreciates having the Traffic Deputy comment from a public safety perspective. Urban requested that the squad cars be made more visible in certain areas. He suggested that the deputies use places like the WalMart parking lot to do their paperwork (versus the fire station or the sub -stations), feeling that this will increase productivity without additional cost. Salter noted that it is effective to park old squad cars in neighborhood driveways where there have been complaints. Urban stated that he feels that take home. vehicles are also effective. There was discussion about the lack of local interaction of the deputies in the communities that they serve. It was requested that an.effort be made. to get to know the municipal employees and to pass on information about what is• happening in the community,. so it.can be passed.on to our elected •officials. Short noted that White Bear Township has not asked the Sheriffs Department to ticket snowbirds, and that this is done in house by the Code Enforcement Officer. It was noted that Vadnais Heights, Shoreview, Arden Hills and Little Canada use the Sheriffs Department to ticket parking violations and snow birds. Urban inquired about the contract communities as listed on the squad cars, and if the print could be enlarged to provide more visible recognition. Altendorfer